Dooboarder.I have 7912 sin.# I have my swingarm off wright now replaceings the bushings.I'm on my 3rd chain and i also need a new sprocket.I just broke half the teeth off.Other then that I would'nt own anything but a raptor.I LOVE IT.I don't have any promblems leaving 400ex's on the trails.

 

I don't have anyway of checking transmission failures by VIN#. I myself have yet seen any damaged transmissions.

A dealer does not have access to Yamaha's warranty records as it pertains to an ENTIRE model year on one machine. All I can do is pull up the VIN# on a Raptor and find out what warranty work has been done to that ONE machine.

I suppose one could put in every VIN# on a Raptor one by one and check,..LOL,...but I think that would take alot of sleepless nights and possibly a month to accomplish. Not only that, but Yamaha's dealer net system would be sounding all kinds of alarms well before anyone could finish.LOL

KNOWSALOT

 

Rapdaddy, Right now there are tons and tons of 400EX's in perfect working condition out on those trails having never replaced a single bearing or bushing. (my extremely hard ridden and abused 99' included)

-Matt

 

I am in the middle of making the same decision, I have 2001 Raptor, and my son rides a 300ex. I have decided to upgrade the 300ex to get a physically larger machine so my buddies won't feel cramped when they ride with me, and to get better suspension. I REALLY want a Z400, but I have learned my lesson about buying a first year model after buying my Raptor. I really don't want to lose having reverse, but the price of used 400ex's is coming down to about $3800 for a 2000 model. If I watch the paper, I can find ones that "the wife rode twice", etc. Compared to a first year model Z400 for about $5900+tax, buying a really nice used 400ex and waiting a year or two to get a tested and depreciated Z400 sounds like a good plan to me. I figure as soon as the Z400's come out, 400EX's will drop some more in price, and there will be a lot of them for sale.

Just my decision,
Lorrin

 

My two cents:

For many, reverse is not an option. On tight trails where I ride, there is no way to turn around. Give it gas and power around will result in running off a cliff or tearing up the terrian (giving the eco crowd more ammo). Lifting the bike and flip it is usually possible, but not easy for smaller riders.

When reverse is a must, there aren't many choices. That's one of the main reasons I ended up on a Raptor.

Rule of thumb, never buy a first year model (car/boat/bike/etc). 1st model years always have problems and you might get stung. I've held to this on car purchases and never been bit. I have yet to get bit on the '01 Raptor, but the potential is definitely there. Just look at all the 'fixes' or engineering upgrades made on the '02 model. Noone revises like that unless they feel there is a problem.

Z400 looks like an interesting bike, but be prepared for 1st year headaches. Just look at the Raptor, DS650 and the Cannondale. Suzuki hasn't done much in the performance category for ATV's, so the risk is even higher.

Honda has been a innovator in recent years. Anyone who thinks they are sitting on their laurels hasn't been paying attention. Heck, the 400EX is a NEW quad, just recently loosing the performance crown (if at all).

Anyone who posts to a 'Yamaha Forumn' and complians when the yamaha is suggested over a honda is an idiot. Also, one or two over enthusiastic respondants does not make ALL raptor owners zealots.

 

Lets talk about the reliable 400ex for a second .. Swingarms breaking as well as subframes. Never mind the poor amount of power. My friend ownes a 400ex and loves it, except for the bolts that continuously fall out no matter how tight or if lock tight is used. I have had my raptor since dec 01 with only one problem. The Carb boots came off once I replaced the clamps and have not had a single problem since. I guess my RAPTOR is very reliable! I'm not a snob about my machine. I like the handling of the 400ex the first time I rode it but now.... I cant stand the thing power, handling the list goes on. I'll keep my raptor. I have had a chance to put time in on a number of machines and would take a raptor over all. The only thing I haven't really been able to put time in on it the Cdale. No one I know wants to spend that kind of money on a machine that no one seems to be that sure of

 

Swingarms/subframes break ONLY (rarely) when raced hardcore in stock form. My current 99' has been abused and most likely raced, but nothing is broken. My previous 01' 400 was ridden pretty hard by me and nothing broke. Now tell me if your friends 400 has broken anything like the swingarm or the subframe..... Matter of fact, find someone on this forum that wasnt abusing the crap out of it, and their swingarm or subframe broke. Dont try to talk down about the 400 just to make yourself feel better about your Raptor. The 400EX is very reliable, and solid as a rock. I bet you personally have not heard of a single 400 breaking.

ps. My 400 is only 3-4 bikelengths behind two of my buddies raptors in a dragrace.
So, I would say your Raptor is underpowered considering it is liquid cooled, and has 260CC more engine... It should absolutely kill the 400 like the liquid cooled banshee kills the air cooled blaster. But, nope. It dosnt.

-Matt

 

i think the best machine outta of the 3 bikes right now is the 400ex. raptor to many problems. we will wait intill spring see what the suzsuckie got. although raptor got some ballz

 

I would wait for the Z400 to come out. Redryder, when the Banshee first came out it had problems to. And even though the 400EX's frames rarely break, they still do break. I think the Raptor's are very good bikes, and Yamaha has addressed the problems on the '02. Not to start a flame or something here (not that one hasn't already started) but I think the Raptor is better than the 400, considering that's all some of the 400EX riders think about is making there 400 faster. And I know there will be people coming on and saying that I am messed up, or I don't have a clue, something along those lines, but I wanted to get my opinion across.

 

The Suzuki is suposed to make as much hp
as the raptor is lighter than 400ex an Raptor
Power to weight Ratio here guys I love my Raptor
but to be honest if you don`t baby it. it want last
the ex will last forever suzuki makes a good quad
I think this is yamahas Daddy we will just have to
wait an see! An I`m Yamaha all the way but the truth
is in the specs weight hp if it is true it is going
to be a awsome machine think about it who had the
Quadzilla? It was awsome so they know how to make a quad?